Brick-cutting machine.



J. G. ROSS.

Wilma ma:

Patented July 13, 1909.

a sums-SHEET 1.

J. G. ROSS.

BRICK CUTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented July 13, 1909.

cnum co. womumomwnms. wnswsfm a e.

J. G. ROSS.

BRICK OUTTIN G MAOHINB.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 20-, 1908.

Patented July 13, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

[UNITED STATES PATENT OT ETEE.

JOHN G. ROSS, OF EAST LIVERPOOL, OHIO.

' BRICK-CUTTING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JoIIN 0. Ross, citizen of the United States, residing at East Liverpool, in the county of Columbiana and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Brick-Cutting Machines, of which the following :is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in brick cutting machines embodying a carriage mounted to travel back and forth upon a base or track, and provided with cutting mechanism, and a section platen over which latter a bar of clay is fed and then cut into bricks, the carriage moving forward with the bar of clay and at the same speed during the operation of the cut-ting mechanism to insure a square cut, said carriage being returned to normal position after the cutting has been effected.

Heretofore this type of machine has been thrown into gear and the carriage moved by hand. A

The present invention contemplates the provision of novel mechanisms for performing these operations automatically or semiautomatically.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction, of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and 1 a is 1n mesh wlth a gear wheel 9 mounted upon accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the aceompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front view of a brick cutting machine embodying theinvention. Fig. 2 is an end view of the machine, the cutting reel and supporting frame being in section. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the mechanism for automatically throwing the cutting mechanism into and out of gear. Fig. 4- is a detail plan view of a portion of the operating mechanism, showing more partieularly the means for throwing the cutter into gear and for automatically returning the carriage to normal position. Fig. 5 is a front view of the parts illustrated in Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 20, 1908.

Patented July 18, 1909.

Serial No. 458,617.

4. Fig. 6 is a sectional View of the clutch by means of which the cutter is thrown into and out of gear. Fig. 7 is a. front view of the semiautomatic machine, the mechanism being thrown into and out of gear by hand. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the base and carriage showing means whereby the carriage may be moved by hand.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings, by the same reference characters.

The base 1 may be of any construction depending upon the style. of the machine. A carriage 2 mounted upon the base to travel forward thereon may be of any pattern best adapted to the design and capacity of the machine. The carriage is supplied with supporting wheels arranged to travel upon a track so as to direct the carriage in its reciprocating movement. The carriage is provided with a frame 3 which receives and supports the platen and the actuating mechanism. The cutter t consists of a reel mounted to turn about a horizontal axis. The cutting reel 4t is provided at its ends with toothed rings 5 which mesh with gear wheels 6 fast to a longitudinal shaft 7. The shaft 7 is mounted in suitable bearings and is arranged in the rear of the cutting reel and is provided with a gear wheel 8 which an axle or stub shaft projected from the carriage 2. A loose pulley 10 is mounted upon the shaft 7 and is adapted to be driven from a suitable source of power by means of a drive belt not shown. A clutch member 11 is provided upon the inner side of the loose pulley 10 and is adapted to cooperate with a clutch member 12 at the opposing end of a sleeve 13, mounted upon the shaft 7 to turn therewith and to move thereon to admit of the clutch being thrown into and out of engagement. A spring Lit mounted upon the shaft 7 and interposed between the clutch members 11 and 12 serves normally to hold said clutch members apart. A lever 15 has one end in engagement with the sleeve 13 to effect movement of the sleeve upon the shaft 7. The lever 15 is adapted to be moved either by hand or automatically to throw the cutting mechanism into gear at the proper time to cut the bar of clay into bricks.

The bar of clay is indicated at 16 and may be fed to the cutter from the nozzle of a pug mill or other type of clay mixer not shown. The platen 17 for receiving the severed bar of clay 16 is of sectional formation and supported upon a shaft 13 which is stationary, and secured at its ends in the side pieces of the frame. A feeder 19 delivers the bar of clay to the platen of the cutter and consists of an endless belt or carrier, which is supported at its ends upon pulleys. The inner pulley 2O coiiperates with a friction wheel 21 fast to a vertical shaft 22 mounted in bearings and vertically adjustable by means of a set screw 23. A trip 24 is fast to the shaft 22 and is adapted to strike a weighted arm 25 at the predetermined time so as to throw the mechanism into gear. By moving the shaft 22 vertically the point of contact of the wheel 21 with the pulley 20 is varied with reference to the center of the pulley 2O therebyproviding for timing the tripping mechanism to throw the machine into gear. The shaft 22 is mounted in bearings on a frame work independent of the cutting mechanism. The weighted arm 25 is pivoted to a bracket 26 attached to the end of the carriage 2 adjacent the feeder 19. The spring 27 is connected at one end to the weighted arm 25 and at its opposite end to the bracket 26 and serves in conjunction with the weight of the arm 25 to throw said arm to one side or the other after passing the dead point. A bracket 28 attached to the base 1 is adapted to engage with the upper portion of the weighted arm 25 and return the same to normal position as the carriage moves forward during the cutting operation.

A lever 29 pivoted intermediate of its ends is connected to one end of the lever 15 and a rod or bar 30 attached to the opposite end extends lengthwise of the machine and terminates in a slotted portion 31 through which the weighted arm 25 passes. When the upper or weighted end of the arm 25 is thrown inward by means of the trip 24 it engages with the inner end of the slotted portion 31 of the connection 30 and moves the levers 29 and 15 so as to throw the clutch members 11 and 12 into gear thereby causing the shaft 7 to rotate and the cutter to operate. As the carriage moves forward, the weighted arm 25 coming into contact with the bracket 28 is thrown outward thereby returning same to normal position. The slotted portion 31 of the connection 30 prevents movement of the latter upon the return of the weighted arm 25 to normal position. The combined action of the spring 27 and weight of the arm 25 is sufiicient to overcome the tension of the spring 14 and to cause movement of the sleeve 13 whereby the clutch members are brought into engagement. At this instant a lock comes into play to hold the clutch members in engagement until after the operation of'the cutting mechanism. This lock consists of a dog 32 pivoted at its inner end to the carriage and having its outer end notched or otherwise constructed to make positive engagement with the lever 15, as indicated most clearly in Fig. 3. The release arm 33 is pendent from the dog 32 and its lower end is forked to engage with an arm 34 at one end of a longitudinal shaft 35 which is mounted in bearings provided at the front side of the carriage 2. The inner end of the arm 34 has a projection which enters a cam or eccentric 36 formed in a side of the gear wheel 9 so as to oscillate the arm 34 and rock the shaft 35. The normal position of the arm 34 and cam groove 36 is that substantially shown in Fig. 3, namely when the inner end of the arm 34 is approximately at its lowest position so as to permit the dog 32 to make positive engagement with the lever 15, the instant the cutting mechanism is thrown into gear to hold the same in operation during the cutting of the bar into bricks. As the cutting mechanism operates, the gear wheel 9 is rotated, thereby lifting the inner end of the arm 34, and when the cutting operation has been completed the inner end of the arm 34 reaches an elevation bringing arm 34 into engagement with the arm 33 to lift the same to the outer end of the dog 32 thereby releasing the lever 15 and permitting the spring 14 to come into play and throw the machine out of gear by separating the clutch members 11 and 12. The rocking shaft 35 is provided at one end with a trip 37 which is adapted to operate a clamp 38 by means of which the bar of clay 16 is gripped so as to move the carriage forward during the cutting of the bar of clay into bricks. The clamp 38 consists of an operating lever located at the side of the cutting machine adjacent to the feeder 19. The instant after the cutting mechanism is thrown into gear the arm 34 is vibrated and the shaft 35 rocked to bring the trip 37 into engagement with the lower end of the lever forming the body of the clamp 38 so as to move the same outward and press the head 39 inward against the bar of clay to firmly grip the same as indicated in Fig. 2. When the bar of clay is thus gripped the carriage moves with the bar and at this interval the cutting mechanism is operated to cut the bar to form bricks. After the operation of the cutter and a moment prior to throwing the machine out of gear, the rock shaft 35 is moved to release the clamp 38 thereby permitting the carriage to return to normal position prior to the next operation of the cutting mechanism.

The'carriage may be returned to normal position either automatically or by hand. The means for automatically returning the carriage to normal position consist of a cam 40 at the outer side of the gear wheel 9 and a pulley 41 mounted upon a pin at the outer end of a bracket 42 secured to the base 1. The instant the cutting mechanism clears the bar of clay, and before the mechanism is thrown out of gear the cam 40 engages with the pulley 41 and exerts a lateral pressure thereagainst to return the carriage to normal position and when the latter reaches its initial or given position the lever 15 is released and the mechanism thrown out of gear. The clamp 38 is released the instant the out is effected, and just prior to the return movement of the carriage.

Vhen the invention adapted to machines to be semiautomatically operated, the parts 22, 25 and the concomitant elements are dispensed with as indicated in Figs. 7 and 8 and the connection 30 is formed with a slotted portion 43 through which a lever 44 passes, said lever being pivoted to the carriage and connected to a transverse shaft 45 which has an arm 46 extended into the slotted portion 47 of a connection 48 pivoted at 49 to the base 1. Upon throwing the upper end of the lever 44 to the right it engages with the inner end of the slotted portion 43 and moves the connection 30 so as to throw the machine into gear. After the cutting operation has been effected, the carriage may be either returned to normal position by the lever 44 and the parts 46 and 48 as indicated in Fig. 8, or may be returned automatically by the action of the parts 40 and 41 as indicated in Fig. 7.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the invention provides a mechanism which may be readily adapted to brick cutting machines of the type specified whereby their operation may be automatic or semiautomatic, as may be required.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a brick cutting machine of the type specified adapted to have a bar of clay continuously fed thereto, a clamp for gripping the bar of clay to move the cutting mechanism with the bar of clay during theoperation of the cutting mechanism, when severing the clay bar into bricks.

2. In a brick cutting machine of the variety described, adapted to have a bar of clay continuously fed thereto, a continuously operated driver, operating mechanism for the cutter including a clutch for throwing it into and out of engagement with the said driver, a clamp for gripping the bar of clay and means for throwing the cutter operating mechanism into gear and the latter actuating the clamp to cause it to grip the clay bar to move the cutting mechanism therewith during its operation.

3. In a brick cutting machine of the class set forth adapted to have a bar of clay continuously fed thereto, operating mechanism for the cutter including a clutch, means for throwing the clutch into engagement, a lock for holding the clutch positively when in engagement and means actuated by said operating mechanism for automatically releasing the lock means after the cutting operation has been effected.

4. In a machine for cutting brick of the type set forth adapted to have a bar of clay continuously fed thereto, the combination of cutting mechanism, operating means for the cutting mechanism including a clutch, means for throwing the clutch into engagement, a lock for securing the clutch throwing means, and a release mechanism for automatically and positively throwing said lock out of action after the cutter has severed the clay bar, said means being actuated by the cutter operating mechanism.

5. In a machine of the character described adapted to have a bar of clay fed thereto, the combination of cutting mechanism, oper ating means therefor including a clutch, means for throwing the clutch into engagement, a lock for securing the clutch throwing means, an arm adapted to be moved by the cutter operating mechanism and a release device positively and automatically actuated by said arm to liberate the clutch throwing means to permit automatic disen agement of the clutch.

6. In a machine of the character specified adapted to have a bar of clay continuously fed thereto, a clamp for gripping the clay bar, actuating mechanism, operating means for the cutting mechanism including a clutch, means for throwing the clutch into gear, a lock for the clutch throwing means, a rock shaft having a trip for actuating the aforesaid clamp, and an arm projecting from the rock shaft and adapted to be actuated by the cutter operating mechanism to effect release of the said lock to permit the automatic disengagement of the clutch.

7. In a machine of the character specified, comprising a base and a carriage mounted to travel backward and forward upon the base and provided with a cutting mechanism and operating means therefor, a cam operated by elements of the cutter operating mechanism, and a pulley mounted upon a fixed support carried by said base and cooperating with said cam to effect a return of the carriage to normal position after'the operation of the cutting mechanism.

8. In a machine of the character set forth comprising a carriage adapted to travel backward and forward and provided with cutting mechanism, operating means for the cutting mechanism including a clutch and a gear element provided with cam portions, means for throwing said clutch into engagement, a lock for securing the clutch throwing means. an arm operated by a cam of said gear element to effect release of the lock, and means cooperating with the other cam of said gear element to return the carriage to normal position.

9. In a machine of the type set forth comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with cutting mechanism and operating means for the cutting mechanism including a clutch, means for throwing said clutch into engagement, the same consisting of a connection having a slotted portion, a counterbalanced arm passed through the slotted portion of said connection and a trip 2% throwing said counter-balanced arm to bring the parts of the clutch into engagement.

10. In a machine of the type set forth comprising a reciprocating carriage provided with cutting mechanism and operating means for the cutting mechanism including a clutch, means for throwing said clutch into engagement, the same consisting of a connection having a slotted portion, a counter-balanced arm passed through the slotted portion of said connection, and a trip 2% throwing said counter-balanced arm to bring the parts of the clutch into engagement, means adapted to engage with said counterbalanced arm to return same to normal position during the movement of the carriage, a lock for holding the clutch in engagement, means for effecting release of the lock, and other means for returning the carriage to normal position. W

11. In a machine of the character specified, the combination of a reciprocating carriage provided with cutting mechanism and operating means therefor including a clutch, means for throwing the clutch into engagement, including a counter-balanced arm, a shaft provided with a trip to operate the said counter-balanced arm, a friction wheel fast to said shaft, a friction driver for said friction wheel, and means for adjusting said shaft to vary the distances of the polnt of contact between the friction wheel and the friction driver from the center of the latter.

12. In a brick cutting machine of the variety set forth, the combination of a reciprocating carriage provided with cutting mechanism and operating means therefor including a clutch, said operating means embodying a gear element provided with cam portions, a clutch operating member, a lock therefor, a connection extended from said clutch operating member, a counter-balanced arm cooperating with said connection and having a limited play with reference thereto, means for tripping the counter-balanced arm to throw the clutch into engagement, means for returning the counter-balanced arm to normal position, a lock for securing the clutch throwing member when the clutch is in engagement, a clamp, a rock shaft having a trip for operating the clamp, an arm eX- tended from the rock shaft and adapted to effect release of said lock and operated by a cam portion of said gear element, and means cooperating with the other cam portion of said gear element to return the carriage to normal position after operation of the cutting mechanism.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. ROSS. [n s] lVitnesses C. E. SURLEs, WV. H. STARR. 

